Christians ëshould be frightenedí by Spooks
-01/11/06
In the face of condemnation by s
Christians ëshould be frightenedí by Spooks
-01/11/06
In the face of condemnation by some Christians of the latest episode of the prime time BBC drama Spooks, the think tank Ekklesia is urging greater consideration of whether the storyline, which features Christian violence, is that far fetched.
The latest episode, screened by the BBC on Monday, depicted a small Christian group which launched attacks on Muslims in the UK.
In response the Evangelical Alliance and Christian Voice condemned the show for what they saw as ëanti-Christian biasí.
Christian Voice National Director Stephen Green said: “This could even be incitement to hatred against Christians. It is completely ludicrous and brings the BBC into more disrepute.
“Most people watching it will just spot another bit of BBC bias and inaccuracy – nevertheless it shows a worrying mind-set in the people that are producing the programme to even think that there are Christians contemplating violence against any Muslims whatsoever – it is just not what we do.”
The Evangelical Alliance has also hit out at the BBC accusing them of trying to smear evangelical Christians as being likely to commit acts of terrorism.
It’s head of public affairs Don Horrocks said: “This is yet another outrageous example of the BBC’s anti-Christian bias.
“This beggars belief. I do think that there is a sinister and malicious agenda at work here and that they are trying to plant the seed of the idea through fiction that evangelical Christians are just as likely to carry out terrorism as some members of the Islamic faith.”
But director of the religious think tank Ekklesia, Jonathan Bartley, who coincidently was at school with the star of Spooks, Rupert Penry-Jones, has just written a book exploring whether violence might be perpetuated by Christians in the UK in years to come.
In the book Bartley points to growing overlap between the arguments of the far Right and some Christian groups, who both seek to ‘defend the Christian country.’ He also highlights the dangers inherent in the beliefs held by some Christians, the violence currently undertaken by some Christians around the world against Muslims, as well as the historic legacy of Christian violence in the UK.
Commenting on the latest episode of Spooks, Jonathan Bartley said: “although some of the details of the storyline were clearly far-fetched, the showís main theme of a small group turning to violence in the name of Christianity is a possibility which should not be entirely ruled out.”
Less than a year ago there were allegations during protests against the screening of ‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’ of death threats against BBC executives, after the personal details of BBC executives were placed on the internet.
Bartley points out in his book that as the church moves further to the margins of society, Christians are feeling increasingly vulnerable and fearful.
“Sometimes fear can lead to irrational responses. The anger generated by the churchesí loss of privilege in a globalised society or by instances of perceived blasphemy or discrimination could conceivably drive a small group to extreme actions” he warns.
Bartley concludes his book by urging Christians to acknowledge the violence within their tradition, but also to explore more fully the traditions of non-violence and peacemaking which have often been marginalised within Christianity.
Christians ëshould be frightenedí by Spooks
-01/11/06
In the face of condemnation by some Christians of the latest episode of the prime time BBC drama Spooks, the think tank Ekklesia is urging greater consideration of whether the storyline, which features Christian violence, is that far fetched.
The latest episode, screened by the BBC on Monday, depicted a small Christian group which launched attacks on Muslims in the UK.
In response the Evangelical Alliance and Christian Voice condemned the show for what they saw as ëanti-Christian biasí.
Christian Voice National Director Stephen Green said: “This could even be incitement to hatred against Christians. It is completely ludicrous and brings the BBC into more disrepute.
“Most people watching it will just spot another bit of BBC bias and inaccuracy – nevertheless it shows a worrying mind-set in the people that are producing the programme to even think that there are Christians contemplating violence against any Muslims whatsoever – it is just not what we do.”
The Evangelical Alliance has also hit out at the BBC accusing them of trying to smear evangelical Christians as being likely to commit acts of terrorism.
It’s head of public affairs Don Horrocks said: “This is yet another outrageous example of the BBC’s anti-Christian bias.
“This beggars belief. I do think that there is a sinister and malicious agenda at work here and that they are trying to plant the seed of the idea through fiction that evangelical Christians are just as likely to carry out terrorism as some members of the Islamic faith.”
But director of the religious think tank Ekklesia, Jonathan Bartley, who coincidently was at school with the star of Spooks, Rupert Penry-Jones, has just written a book exploring whether violence might be perpetuated by Christians in the UK in years to come.
In the book Bartley points to growing overlap between the arguments of the far Right and some Christian groups, who both seek to ‘defend the Christian country.’ He also highlights the dangers inherent in the beliefs held by some Christians, the violence currently undertaken by some Christians around the world against Muslims, as well as the historic legacy of Christian violence in the UK.
Commenting on the latest episode of Spooks, Jonathan Bartley said: “although some of the details of the storyline were clearly far-fetched, the showís main theme of a small group turning to violence in the name of Christianity is a possibility which should not be entirely ruled out.”
Less than a year ago there were allegations during protests against the screening of ‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’ of death threats against BBC executives, after the personal details of BBC executives were placed on the internet.
Bartley points out in his book that as the church moves further to the margins of society, Christians are feeling increasingly vulnerable and fearful.
“Sometimes fear can lead to irrational responses. The anger generated by the churchesí loss of privilege in a globalised society or by instances of perceived blasphemy or discrimination could conceivably drive a small group to extreme actions” he warns.
Bartley concludes his book by urging Christians to acknowledge the violence within their tradition, but also to explore more fully the traditions of non-violence and peacemaking which have often been marginalised within Christianity.